Tipnis ridicules anti-migrant campaign

Mumbai, May 1 (UNI) Taking the Shiv Sena on its own turf, former Chief of the Air Staff Anil Tipnis sought to know how anyone could be prevented from migrating to Mumbai.

The former air chief was speaking at a function organised by the Shiv Sena itself. The function, ''Garjato Marathi'', was hosted by Shiv Sena MLA Subhash Desai.

Mr Tipnis pointed out to the gathering that although he himself was born a Maharashtrian, he had spent a major part in Haryana.

The former air chief, instead, exhorted Maharashtrians to ''expand their horizon'' and move to other places in the country if the need arose for their prospects.

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, speaking on the occasion, clarified that his party per se was not opposed to ''outsiders'' coming to Maharashtra. But the interests of the Marathi-speaking people should be protected and the Shiv Sena will continue to oppose those who try to snatch away the former's rights.

Mr Thackeray, meanwhile, urged Maharashtrians to give vent to their entrepreneurial skills. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, who was also present on the occasion, too stressed the need for more and more Maharashtrians to try their hand in business ventures. Veteran singer Asha Bhosle also spoke on the occasion.